Check-cutter attachment for typewriters



B. H. THOMAS. CHECK CUTTER ATTACHMENT FOR TYPEWRITER S.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 7, I919 Patented Dec. 21,1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l- B. H. THOMAS.

CHECK CUTTER ATTACHMENT FOR TYPEWRITERS.

APPLICATION FILED APR-7,1919- Patented Dec. 21, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

11y I/EN TOR UNETED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BERT H. THOMAS, OF DES MOINES, IOWA.

- CHECK-CUTTER ATTACHMENT FOR TY PEWRITERS.

' Application filed April 7,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, BERT H. THOMAS, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of DesMoines, in the county of Polk and State of Iowa, have invented a'certain new and useful Check-Cutter Attachment for Typewriters, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a check cutter attachment for typewriters embodying a device of simple, durable and inexpensive construction which may be quickly and easily mounted on an ordinary typewriter or removed therefrom.

A further object is to provide such a device including a check cutter member adaptted to be moved in all directions for cutting a check on desired lines. 7

Still a further object is to provide such a device so arranged and constructed as to be mounted on a typewriter platen carriage in such manner that the checks printed on the typewriter by the ordinary mechanism thereof will be delivered to position convenient for cutting.

Still a further object is to provide such a device having means for carrying checks not yet filled in, in position convenient for feeding such checks to the ordinary platen.

With these and other objects in view my invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of thedevice, whereby the obj eots contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a top or plan view of an attachment embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 shows a side elevation of the same.

Fig. 3 shows a vertical,.secti'onal'view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4: shows a rear elevation proved attachment; and

Fig. 5 shows a plan view of a check designed to be used with my attachment.

It is my intention to provide my improved check cutting attachment especially for use with checks of the kind having "columns of figures near their left-hand ends, said check being such that it may be cut on certain lines, so that the figures remaining'attached to the check in said column will indicate the maximum amount for which the check has been drawn.

My device is designed to housed in conof my im- Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Dec, 21, 1920,

1919. Serial No. 288,425.

nection with an ordinary typewriter, a portion of the frame of which has been shown in Fig. 2, and is indicated in the drawings by the reference numeral 10.

Slidably mounted on the frame 10 is a platen carriage 11, on which is rotatably mounted the ordinary roller platen 12, shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2.

My improved check cutting attachment comprises an inclined platform 13 spaced rearwardly from the platen carriage and inclined upwardly and rearwardly, as illustrated clearly in Fig. 2.

Supporting the platform 13 are suitable brackets 14 arranged at opposite ends of the platform and having arms 15 which extend forwardly along side the frame of the platen carriage, as illustrated in Fig. 2.

Each arm 15 is provided with longitudinally spaced notches 16 and 17 in its upper and lower edges respectively, which notches are designed to receive screws 18 mounted in the frame of the platen carriage.

It will be seen that by tilting theattachment upwardly and forwardly, the arms 15 may be released from the screws 18 and the attachment may be quickly and easily removed without removing any other parts and without the use of any tools. Similarly by reversing the operation the attachment can be assembled on the typewriter quickly and easily.

Arranged transversely of the platform 13, near the lower edge thereof and on the upper surface thereof, is a thin flat strip 19 secured at one end near one edge to the platform 13 by a bolt or the-like 20, and having at its other end a longitudinal slot 21, through which a similar bolt '22 is extended.

The strip 19, which for convenience I will call the lower cutter bar,'is 'designed to fit snugly against the platform13 and form a cutter member for the checks. The lower cutter bar is of resilient material, so that it may be easily sprung upwardly for inserting .the check between it and the platform 13;

Near the upper left-hand corner of the platform 13 is mounted what may call the upper cutter bar,'comprising the strip 23 extending transversely of the platform 13, but being relatively short, as shown in Fig. 1.

The upper cutter baris of resilientmatcrial and has near its left-hand end .two slots 24, elongated transversely of the bar 23 and receiving bolts or the like 25, whereby the V r with the two longitudinal edges A and Band upper cutter bar is adjustably and firmly secured to the platform 13.

Thebars 19 and 23 are provided near the left-hand end of the platform 13 with longitudinally elongated'slots 26 and 27 respectively. 7

What I shall call the free moving cutter bar 28, comprising a strip of thinresilient material, preferably metal, is mounted on the bars 29 and 23 and extends substantially from top to bottom of the platform 13.

For holding the roll 38 in the proper position on the shaft 35, so that the printed checks will be fed properly to the check cutter attachment, I have mounted on the shaft 35 at the ends thereof, sleeves 39 and 40. The sleeves 39 and 40 have annular flanges 41 and 42 adjacent to the roll 38. By using such sleeves of different lengths, the position of the roll with relation to the length of the shaft 35 may be varied.

On the sleeve 40, for instance, is a coil spring 43' which presses against the flange 42 and the adjacent bearing formed by the bracket 14, for thereby imposing frictional pressure of the flanges 42 and 41 on the roll 38.

The paper from the roll 38 is threaded around the platen roller 12, as illustrated by dotted lines in Fig. 2, and around the ordinary guide rod 44 on the platen carriage,

thence upwardly beneath the lower cutter p In Fig. 5 I have illustrated the checks printed on the paper roll and have indi- 'cated the checks generally by the reference It will be noted that the righthand edge of the free moving cutter bar 28 is the cutcharacter 46. 7

When the checks are printeda slit may be made at the left end of the strip or roll of paper at each edge of each check, which slit indicated by the reference character 4 ,In Figs. 1 and 3 I have indicated the out line of the check without showing the printing thereon.

ting'edge thereof, and is formed step-shaped the'inclined edge C.

In, the practical use of my improved attachment, checks may be fed to the platen roller in the ordinary way, or preferably be reasonably included within their checks printed on the roller 35 may be threaded around the platen as heretofore indicated. V V

. The checks are preferably so printed-that the date line 48 may be two ordinarytypewriter spaces from the top of the check; the

line 49 for the name of the payee three fillsrin the third check, and thereafter the first check will be in the position illustrated in Fig. 1. V

The free moving cutter bar 28 may then be moved up and down or laterally or both, until the edges A, B, and C are in position to cut the lefthand end of the check on such lines that the indicating figures 51, remaining on the check after the check has been cut, will show the maximum amount 7 for which the check has been drawn.

The lower edge ofithe upper cutter bar may be used to cut the check for a short dis tance near its left upper edge, but where the'slits 47 are provided, the upper cutter bar need not be used.

After the end of the check has been cut, the lower edge may be out along the cutter bar 19. The operation then continues, and the operator alternately prints one check and cuts off another.

It will be seen that my attachment is of very simple and inexpensive construction and may be readilyand easily mounted on or removed from the typewriter. 7

By using my device, safety checks of the kind herein mentioned may be used on the typewriter, and no other protecting device is necessary. a a

The checks can be out in the manner here-' inbefore mentioned more quickly'and easily than, could be done with any other check protecting machine.

Some changes maybe made in theconstruction and arrangement of the parts of I my improved attachment'without departing from the essential features and purposes (thereof, and it is my intention to cover by my claims any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which may scope. I claim as nay invention: V 1.111 a device of the'class'd'escribeia platform, a' lower cutter barfixed thereon, I movable cutter bars on said"platform ar-j'j ranged at an angle to each other pone of said 7 v 5 last cutter bars being capable of movement n all directions, whereby various portions of a check or the like may be cut, and means for supporting said platform on the carriage of a typewriter.

2. In a device of the class described, a platform, a check cutting means on said platform, said last means comprising a lower cutter bar fixed on the platform and an upper cutter bar adjustably fixed thereon, a third movable cutter bar placed at right angles to the upper and lower cutter bars, and adapted to move in all directions, the parts being so arranged that a check or the like may be out upon its upper edge, its

side edges and its lower edge simultane ously, and means for mounting said platform on a typewriter carriage.

3. In a device of the class described; a platform; a lower cutter bar of resilient material mounted on said platform; a free moving cutter bar mounted on said platform, arranged for movement in all directions in a plane parallel with that in which the platform rests; and means for supporting said platform on a typewriter platen carriage.

4:. In a device of the class described; a platform; a lower cutter bar of resilient material mounted on said platform; a ree moving cutter bar mounted on said platform, arranged for movement in all directions in a plane parallel with that in which the platform rests; an upper cutter bar; and means for mounting said platform on a typewriter platen carriage.

5. In a device of the class described; a platform; a lower cutter bar of resilient material mounted on said platform; a free moving cutter bar mounted on said platform, arranged for movement in all directions in a plane parallel with that in which attachment for supporting a roll of paper;

anfil means for imposing tension on said ro 7. In a devicerof the class described; a platform; a lower cutter bar of resilient material mounted on said platform; a free moving cutter bar mounted on said platform, arranged for movement in all directions in a plane parallel with that in which the platform rests; an upper cutter bar;

means for mounting said platform on a typewriter platen carriage; means on said attachment for supporting a roll of paper; means for imposing tension on said roll; a roll of paper mounted on said supporting means, said roll having checks printed thereon, provided with columns of figures near one end, and having spaces for printing in date, name of payee, and amount, said device being so constructed that when one check on the roll reaches a certain point with relation to the platen on the typewriter, on which the device is mounted, the lower edge of another check will be adjacent to the lower ed e of said lower cutter bar.

Des Moines, owa, April 5, 1919.

BERT H. THOMAS. 

